Dispensing device for &#34;bag-in-box&#34; packages, bag and device for filling bags

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device (50) for application to a flexible bag (20) as in a &#34;bag-in-box&#34; packaging system, is fastened to the outer cardboard box (14) of the bag. A first portion (52), connected to a second one (51) via a hinge region (53) is swung up and the still-closed bag (20&#39;) is pulled through the opening in the device. After closing and locking (54, 57) the portions (52, 51), clamping or valve members (49, 48) act against each other through the inserted bag (20) and seal it. The protuberant corner of the bag (20&#39;) is then opened by the user. By manual action by means of an actuating lever (55) against a closure wall (59) bearing one of the clamping members (49), the opening for the dispensing of the bag filling product can be selectively opened. The swing position of the portions (51, 52) at the hinge (53) is not affected thereby and the portions (51, 52) remain locked in one another (54, 57).

The present invention relates to an improvement in packages which arecommonly known as "bag-in-box" packages. This is a packaging systemwhere a bag of flexible material such as film is filled, for instance,with a liquid product through a corresponding opening, possibly withflange in the bag, whereupon a dispensing device is provided at theopening and the bag together with the applied dispensing device is thenplaced in a stiff envelope such as a cardboard box. Most commonly,liquids such as wine, fruit juice and edible oils are packaged in thismanner.

The method commonly consists therein that a bag manufacturermanufactures for the above-mentioned insert a bag of suitable flexiblefoil or film having a plastic flange in the region of one of the bagcorners. The dispensing device is then pressed into the flange and, inthis condition, the bag and dispensing device are fed to a fillingdevice in as aseptic a condition as possible. When the bag arrives atthe filling device, the dispensing device is removed, the bag isevacuated and then filled through the flange opening with the desiredliquid product, a nitrogen zone being provided around the flange areawhere air might accumulate. The dispensing device is then introducedagain and attached to the bag. The filled bag is then introduced into acardboard box, the dispensing device being present at least in theregion of a tear-out opening enabling the end user to install thedispensing device through the tear out opening and then to dispense theliquid product through the use of this device.

This procedure has substantial disadvantages. These disadvantagesinclude difficulties in maintaining aseptic conditions duringmanufacture and furthermore during the expected shelf-life of a productpacked in this way. These conditions have been difficult to achievebecause the dispensing device and the flange opening following bagmanufacture and before filling must necessarily be left open to theenvironment. Moreover, the dispensing devices themselves have to bemanufactured, stored and assembled under very hygienic conditions.Furthermore, the removal of the dispensing device and then the fillingof the bag and the reinsertion of said device result in the possibilityof contamination. It should furthermore be noted that it is entirelypossible, after the filling of the bag and the application of thedispensing device to the bag, that dirt will penetrate through thedispensing device unless the latter itself has a sealed dispensingopening. This last-mentioned problem has to some extent been solved byproviding a sealed dispensing device which is pierced upon the first usethereof, this measure, however, requiring refined and correspondinglyexpensive manufacture of the dispensing device. All the above factorscontribute to a much shorter shelf life for the products packed in thisway as compared with the expected storage life based on thecharacteristics of the film of which the bags are produced.

A further disadvantage of the known systems is that the productionmethod is complicated and slow, and as a result is relatively expensive.While it is possible to automate the manufacturing steps involved, theconstruction of the dispensing device is often complicated and thefilling with removal of the dispensing device, its reinsertion and thenattachment to the bag further contribute to a slow cycle of manufactureand consequently to higher manufacturing expenses.

Another disadvantage of the known systems is that when a filled bag withthe dispensing device is finally installed in the cardboard package thedispensing device obstructs the proper positioning of the bag in thecarton since this device protrudes from the bag. This has the resultthat it is often difficult for the end user to find the dispensingdevice in the carton after opening its tear-out opening.

It is thus an object of the present invention to propose an improvedmethod for the preparation of the bag, its filling and the applicationof the dispensing device which minimizes the contamination problemsassociated with known methods and to propose an improved dispensingdevice construction which can be used together with the said method,inter alia, of production of the bag, in accordance with the presentinvention.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a dispensing device for"bag-in-box" packages having a bag which is filled with material andwhich is packed in an outer protective container, the device having adispensing opening which can receive a closed region of the said filledbag, said dispensing opening including manually actuatable clamp meanswhich are movable between a first position and a second position, thefirst position permitting free movement of the said portion of the bagthrough the dispensing opening while in the second position the saidportion of the bag is gripped and fixed with respect to the dispensingopening and makes it possible for the portion of the bag to be openedmanually there, while the said clamp means exerts a sealing pressure onthe portion of the bag which has thus been opened, dispensing meansbeing provided in order to open or close the said bag opening andselectively dispense material from the bag while the said clamp meansare in said second position.

The aforesaid device makes it possible for it either to be applied bythe manufacture to the filled bag or for it to be applied by the finaluser. The bag remains hermetically sealed until the bag portionextending through the dispensing opening is opened by the end user, forinstance by cutting, tearing or the like. If desired, the saiddispensing device can be made reusable, thereby minimizing the cost ofsuch packaging systems.

According to the invention there is furthermore proposed a method of bagpreparation in which a bag is prepared for the packing of a given,preferably liquid, product, the material is introduced therein, the bagis closed, a dispensing device is applied externally to the bag, the bagmaterial being adapted to pass through a dispensing opening of thedispensing device so as to be opened by the end user, for instance bycutting, tearing or the like. Preferably, the dispensing device isapplied to the bag and held fast on it by mechanical clamp means.

Furthermore, the bag preferably comprises locating means in order toassure an accurate locating of the dispensing device on the bag.Preferably, the locating means comprises at least one pair of locatingopenings which are received over protrusions which are part of theclamping means of the dispensing device. The locating openings arepreferably provided on both sides of a corner of the bag. Furthermore, atear indication is preferably provided between the locating openings andarranged to form an opening in the bag in the intended portion thereof.

The present invention also envisages the provision of a package whichcomprises a bag of desired flexible material which hermetically enclosesa material, preferably a liquid material, said bag comprising adispensing device applied externally to it, the hermetic closure of thematerial remaining unaffected by said dispensing device and thedispensing device having a dispensing opening through which flexiblematerial of the bag is caused to project for subsequent opening by anend user.

Further preferred features of the present invention will be understoodfrom the following description given in relation to the figures.

The invention will be explained by way of example with reference to thedrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred form of a dispensingdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device of FIG. 1 showingthe clamping means in the aforementioned first position enabling aclosed portion of a packaging bag (not shown) to pass freely through adispensing opening;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the clamping means in theaforesaid second position fixing the closed portion of the bag whichextends through the dispensing opening;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, showing the dispensing deviceupon use for dispensing;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section view along line XIII--XIII of Fig. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section view along the line IX--IX of Fig. 8;

FIG. 10 is a corner portion of a bag for use with the device shown inFIGS. 6 to 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the device according to Fig. 11;

FIG. 13 is a section view along line XIII--XIII of Fig. 12;

FIG. 14 is a section view along line XIV--XIV of Fig. 13;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation of the device according to FIG. 11 in theaforesaid first position which enables a closed portion of a packagingbag to be introduced freely through the dispensing opening;

FIG. 16 shows a corner section of a bag for use with the embodiment ofFIGS. 6 to 9 or 11 to 15;

FIG. 17 is a front elevation view, partially in section, of anotherpreferred embodiment of the dispensing device of the invention;

FIGS. 18A and 18B are section views along line XVIII--XVIII of FIG. 17in the closed and open positions of the device;

FIGS. 19A and 19B are schematic views similar to Figs. 18A and 18B butwith the section lines displaced 90°;

FIG. 20 is a section view along the line XX--XX of Fig. 19B;

FIGS. 21A to 21D are a series of perspective views showing the steps forthe application of a dispensing device, particularly the one illustratedin FIGS. 17 to 20, in a "bag-in-box" packaging system;

FIG. 22 is a schematic showing of an arrangement for filling flexiblebag packages in accordance with the present invention, serving toexplain the corresponding preferred method of filling;

FIG. 23 is a schematic drawing showing in front view the manner ofoperation of the arrangement according to Fig. 22, certain parts of thearrangement in FIG. 22 having been omitted for the sake of clarity,

FIG. 23A shows a design modified with respect to the bag weld designshown in FIG. 23;

FIGS. 24A, B and C show schematically the sequence of the handling ofthe opening of the bag for the filling, corresponding to the methoddescribed on basis of FIGS. 22 and 23 and the arrangement carrying outthis method.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 5 there is shown a first preferredembodiment of the dispensing device suitable for use in "bag-in-box"packaging techniques. A dispensing device 50 has a housing 11 ofgenerally cubical shape. The housing is formed essentially of two parts51 and 52 which are integrally joined together at a hinge portion 53.The first part 51 has a peripheral groove 12 which serves for theapplication of the dispensing device 50 in a corresponding opening on anouter protective container, such as a carton box 14. The second part 52,as can be noted in particular from FIGS. 3 and 4, can pivot around thehinge portion 53 into a first position, shown in FIG. 3, which makes itpossible for a portion of a bag 20 to be pulled into or through thedispensing device. The second part 52 can then be swung back into asecond position, shown in Fig. 4, against the part 51 and is clampedfast against it to hold the bag and furthermore to intimately seal thewalls of the bag against each other. Preferably, a projection 49 isprovided on the part 52 which with the protruding portion 20' of the bagplaces itself in a corresponding recess 48 in order to assist thesealing closure of the bag when the device is in the position shown inFIG. 4.

A releasable detent device 54 is provided as part of the clampingmechanism to hold the parts 51 and 52 together in the closed positionshown in FIG. 4. The detent device 54 comprises in this connection apair of laterally protruding lugs 57 on the housing part 52, adapted toengage with corresponding recesses 58 on the housing part 51. Inoperation, i.e. after the bag 20 or the protruding bag portion 20' hasbeen opened by the user, either by tearing or cutting a dispensingopening, liquid is dispensed by bending the wall 59 of the housing part52. This takes place in the manner that a lever 55 protruding centrallyon the wall 59 is gripped and pushed upward, as shown in Fig. 5. By thisaction a dispensing opening 56 is opened on the device 50 and makes itpossible for liquid to flow out of the bag 20 as desired. The resilientor elastic development of the material of the dispensing device sees tothe automatic closing of the part 51 against the part 52 as soon as thelever 55 is released.

FIGS. 6 to 10 show another illustrative embodiment of the dispensingdevice. The dispensing device has a pair of flanges 21, 22 arranged atthe bottom which define between each other a groove 12 extending atleast partially around the periphery of the device. It serves to receivethe edge of an opening in a carton container 14 and thus hold thedispensing device in position of use. The body of the dispensing deviceis furthermore longitudinally slit along the line 23 which extendspartially through the body so that housing parts on both sides of theline 23 can be swung away from and towards each other approximatelyabout an axis 24 defined by the inner end of the line or slit 23. Aclamping means such as an elastic detent hook 25 engages in acorresponding detent opening 26, whereby the body of the device is keptclosed, as shown in the figure. Release of the detent connection 25, 26makes it possible to open the body of the device, whereby a region ofthe closed bag of flexible material can be drawn into the device throughits dispensing opening 27. A welded corner of the bag shown in FIG. 10comprises, for this purpose, a pair of locating openings 28, 29 arrangedon both sides of the corner and outwardly of the welding orwall-connection line 30 of the bag. The locating openings 28 and 29 areintended to be placed over corresponding locating spigots 31, 32 on thedispensing device, the purpose and operation of which will hereinafterbe described. The corner of the bag between the locating openings 28, 29further has opening indications 33, either tear lines or cutting marks,which are arranged on the closure flap 34 of the bag in the region ofsaid corner provided with openings. Once the bag is correctly positionedby the locating openings 28, 29 and the dispensing device relative toeach other, the closed or sealed corner region of the bag extends intothe dispensing opening 27. In this position, the dispensing device isclosed by engagement of the detent hook 25 into the correspondingopening 26. Thereupon, the opening indications 33 between wall parts 35of the body of the device which surround the dispensing opening 27 arevisible to the user and the user may, as desired, open the bag bytearing or cutting along the indications 33. The arrangement of theopening of the bag along the lower edge of the bag, together with theshape of the body of the device with its dispensing opening 27 directeddownwardly, assures a downward flow of liquid from the bag when thedispensing device is operated by the user.

As is best shown in FIG. 9, this embodiment includes a noveldispensing-device actuating mechanism, shown generally by numeral 36.The dispensing mechanism 36 comprises a generally concave-shaped element37 which supports the spigots 31, 32 for the locating of the openings inthe corner region of the bag. Cooperating with this element 37 there isprovided a piston 38 which is slideable axially within the body of thedevice. The movement of the piston 38 is controlled by an externallyoperatable screw drive 39. Rotation of the screw drive 39 will move thepiston 38 either towards the concave element 37, tending then to flattenthe latter, or away from said element, whereby the element 37 againassumes the concave shape shown in FIG. 9. With the bag 20 correctlylocated through the dispensing device with the actuating mechanism 36 asshown in FIG. 9, the bag will be opened and its content dispensed fromthe dispensing opening 27. Rotation of the screw drive 39 so as to movethe piston 38 against the element 37 will stretch the bag materialbetween the spigots 31, 32 and press the bag walls together in sealingfashion so that further discharge of the material contained in the bagis prevented.

FIGS. 11 to 16 show a third preferred embodiment of a dispensing deviceaccording to the present invention. This embodiment is an alternativeconstruction to that shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. The dispensing device 40 isessentially constructed integrally with two parts 41 and 42 which areconnected at a hinge region of slight thickness 43 so that the two partscan be swung towards and away from each other. As shown in FIGS. 11 and13, the two parts are closed by engaging an elastic hook 44 on one partinto an opening 45 in the other part of the body of the dispensingdevice. In the open position of the device, as shown in FIG. 15, aclosed or sealed corner region of a bag is introduced, the locatingopenings 28, 29 on the bag being placed over locating spigots 31, 32 onthe device part 41. Upon closure of the two parts 41, 42 the cornerregion of the bag 20 lying between the openings 28, 29 is clamped fastbetween the two parts 41, 42 of the body 40 of the device. A stillclosed or sealed corner region 20' of the bag or its edge protrudes fromthe dispensing device and may be opened as desired by the user either bytearing or cutting the indications 33 provided on one of the lowercorners 34 of the bag, namely the corner region of the bag which isclamped fast. This arrangement assists in the downward flow after thebag has been opened.

In this embodiment, a dispensing-device actuating mechanism 46 isprovided, comprising an inwardly curved concave surface 47 in the part41 as well as a piston 19 and an externally actuatable screw drive 18 onthe part 42. The piston 19 has a convex piston surface 17 facing towardsthe concave surface 47 and is moved towards and away from the surface 47guided on the guide bolts 16. Its movement is controlled by the screwdrive 18. In the open position of piston 19 with respect to the surface47 shown in FIG. 13, the material of the bag 20 between the locatingbolts 31, 32 is relatively loose, which makes it possible for liquid todischarge through the dispensing opening 27 formed between the convexpiston surface 17 and the concave facing surface 47 on the part 41. Byactuation of the drive 18, the piston 19 is driven against the part 41,as a result of which the material of the bag is stretched between thebolts 31 and 32. In this way the walls of the bag are also pressedagainst each other, as a result of which the corner of the bag is againsealed there.

FIGS. 17 to 20 will now be described. The embodiment of the dispensingdevice 80 shown here is again formed essentially of two parts 81 and 82.They are connected in the manner described hereinafter. The first part81 has a substantially cubic shape, as seen in the front elevation ofFIG. 17, and comprises a peripheral groove 12, similar to the previouslydescribed embodiments, in order to fix the part 81 in an opening in awall 14 in a "bag-in-box" outer container. The second part 82 comprisesa pair of laterally extending spigots 83 which fit into pivot holes 84of the part 81, as a result of which a hinge connection is formedbetween these two parts. Preferably a slight obstruction in movement,either by friction or by interference fit, is provided between the twoparts 81 and 82 so that any relative movement of these parts is possibleonly by intentional movement by a person who wants to operate the devicealso in this manner.

The second movable part 82 comprises an operating handle 85 integralwith a front wall 86 and side walls 87 and 88 on which the pivot spigots83 and 84 are formed. As is best shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the seconddevice part 82 comprises a clamping surface 89 on a lip 90 whichcooperates with an opposing surface 91 on a lip 92 of the stationaryfirst part 81. In the closed position shown in FIG. 18A, the twosurfaces 89 and 91 lie against each other, they being substantiallytangential to a circular arc with its center at the pivot axis definedby the spigots 83. In this manner, no internal forces which could tendto move the part 82 into open position from the closed position arepresent and thus the dispensing device remains closed until it ismanually opened.

The stationary first part 81 of the dispensing device comprises a pairof laterally spaced projecting tabs 93 and 94 each carrying outwardlydirected aligned projections or locating pins 95. They serve to receiveover them locating openings 28, 29 on the edge of the bag 20, as shownin Figs. 21A and 21B. The protruding tabs or walls 93, 94 are sodeveloped that they can be flexed laterally, as shown in FIG. 19B.Moreover, the walls 93, 94 extend beyond the tongue region 92 of thestationary part 81 in order in this way to define a concave region inwhich the bag 20 is stretched in the closed position of the device, onthe one hand by engagement of the lips 90, 92 on the bag 20 which, onthe other hand, is fixed on the locating bolts 95.

The movable part 82 of the dispensing device comprises guide surfaces96, 97 on side walls 87, 88 so that, by a swinging of the part 82 intoopen position in accordance with FIG. 19B, these guide surfaces 96, 97come into contact with the locating pins 95, whereby the walls 93 and 94are bent inwards. The bag portion 20 between the locating pins 95 isthen loose and permits delivery of the material. Upon the closing of thedispensing device, the guide surfaces 96, 97 release the pins 95, andthe walls 93, 94, due to their resiliency, flex back to the normalposition shown in Fig. 19A. Here the bag is again stretched between thelocating pins 95 and the lip region 90, 92, closed in sealing fashionthere.

In FIGS. 21A to 21D there is shown a sequence of the steps for theinstalling of the dispensing device, especially constructed inaccordance with the one preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 20.Initially an opening 100 is formed in the outer package or carton 14 bylifting off a region 101, which opening, possibly with the region 101,is thereupon brought into engagement with the dispensing device 80.

A corner region of the still sealed or closed and filled bag 20 extendsoutwardly through said opening so that the locating openings 28, 29 areexposed, as well as the opening indications 33 provided on the bag edge34 which lies on the outside with reference to the weld seam. As shownin FIGS. 21B and 21C, a dispensing device 80 is placed in open positionover the opening 100. The corner region of the bag 20 is pulled throughthe dispensing opening of the dispensing device and the locatingopenings 28, 29 are placed over the locating pins 95. Once this has beendone, the part 82 is bent over in the direction indicated by the arrowin FIG. 21D into the closed position in which the region of the bagcorner is firmly clamped between the two parts 81, 82. In this positionthe corner region of the bag can now be torn or cut off along theopening indications 33, whereupon bag and dispensing device can beoperated in the usual way.

The effect with the dispensing device closed that the bag, once openedis stretched and is furthermore brought under sealing pressure, as shownin the embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 6 to 20, assures a veryefficient sealing of the bag as desired, without interfering with thedelivery of the material contained in the bag, preferably a liquid, uponthe opening of the device.

Reference will now be had to FIGS. 22 to 24 in which a filling processand a machine operating in accordance with the process respectively areshown for filled bags closed on all sides which are suitable, inparticular, for the use of the dispensing devices described.

As shown in FIG. 22, on a filling machine for "bag-in-box" bags,preferably for use in connection with the dispensing devices previouslydescribed, there is provided a bag roll 60 having a continuous bag webof flexible material, on which weld seams 61, such as shown in FIGS. 23and 23A respectively, have been previously prepared. The bag web isdrawn from the roll 60 and lead via a guide roller 62 around an upperroll 63. Thereafter, the web is drawn downwardly over a table generallyarranged at an angle of approximately 60° to the horizontal, along whichvarious treatment steps are carried out. The reason for the inclinedposition of the table is so that when the bag is filled with a material,particularly a liquid material, all of the air will emerge from the bagsince the filling opening, due to said inclination forms the apex, thusavoiding the presence of air bubbles in the packed liquid material.Moreover, the upper corner welds of the bags, as seen in FIG. 23 or 23A,are developed generally convex, considered in the direction of advance,with respect to the longitudinal direction of the web, and in particulartheir side regions are developed at an oblique angle with respect tosaid direction in order to minimize the possibility of air pockets inthese corners.

At a first treatment station 64, the central region of the bag fed ineach case is cut open along a line 65 as shown in FIG. 23 in order toprovide a filling opening. If desired, a dispensing device can beattached in this stage of manufacture by arranging dispensing devices ina magazine beneath the table and in each case applying one of thesedispensing devices to the lower edge of the bag at the treatment station64. However, it is preferred to apply dispensing devices only later.From the station 64 the web passes, as seen in direction of travel, asensor 66 for controlling the position and feed of the bag and then apair of driver rollers 67, in order, finally, to reach a second station68. A pair of suction heads 69 are provided here to spread the bag bysuction along the line 65 as shown in FIGS. 24A and 22. If the bagmaterial is constructed of more than one layer, it may be advisable, asa preliminary step, to weld or in general join the individual layers,after the formation of the opening, as at 65, to each wall in order tomake certain that opening access is had into the actual interior of thebag which is to be filled. A conventional filling arrangement 70 is thenmoved down into the bag opening 65, suction openings 71 being possiblyprovided thereon in order to pull the edge of the opening now againstthe filling spout and in order also to assist in the withdrawal of airfrom the bag interior, as shown in FIG. 24B. After the end of thefilling process, the filling arrangement 70, together with the suctionheads 69, is withdrawn and a pair of sealing jaws 72 is placed in use inorder to seal the opening 65.

While the bag is being filled at the treatment station 68 as has beendescribed, it is supported at its base by guide roller elements 73.Thereupon, the individually filled bags 20, which are still attached atthe station 68 to the web of bags to be filled, are separated from eachother and transported further, being deposited in open outside cartonswhich have been erected, for instance, by a device such as described inco-pending Australian Application No. 88'817/82.

It is self-evident that the foregoing describes merely one preferredembodiment of the bag production, filling and closing. Since, however,the present invention proposes the provision of dispensing devices whichdo not themselves damage the bag material, other filling processes andcorresponding machines may also be employed. Thus, for example, a tubeof flexible bag material may be formed and filled with the desiredliquid product, whereupon the tube is cross sealed through the liquidproduct, whereby the inclusion of air in the filling product ispractically impossible. Such bags could then simply be separated alongthe cross sealing and be packed in suitable outside packings or cartons.

I claim:
 1. A dispensing device for a bag-in-box container, comprising:ahousing; first securing means for attaching said housing to said box;second securing means separate from said first securing means forreleasably holding at two spaced locations a portion of said bag to beopened, said second securing means being operable to secure said portionof said bag whether or not said first securing means has secured saidhousing to said box; and valve means attached to said housing, saidvalve means in cooperation with said second securing means beingoperable for selectively stretching said portion of said bag over acourse between said spaced locations to close said bag, or reducing saidcourse of said bag portion to open said bag portion; said valve meanscomprising a resilient stretching member and an actuator means acting onsaid resilient stretching member to reduce or enlarge said course ofsaid bag portion; and said second securing means comprising a holdingmeans mounted on said resilient stretching member.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a pair of partsreleasably fixed to one another.
 3. The device according to claim 2,wherein said first and second parts of said housing are swingablycoupled to each other.
 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein saidfirst and second parts are swingably coupled about an axis and whereinsaid valve means includes first and second mateable surfacesrespectively on said first and second parts and tangential to said axis,said first and second surfaces arranged on said first and second partsso as to be spaced closely together to further aid in closure of saidbag portion in a first position and spaced from each other in a secondposition when opening of said bag portion is desired.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said valve means comprises a piston meansmovable between first and second positions in which said bag portion isopened and closed, respectively.
 6. The device according to claim 1,wherein said actuating means act on said resilient stretching member toreduce said course of said bag portion.
 7. The device according to claim1, wherein said actuator means acts on said resilient stretching memberto enlarge said course of said bag portion.
 8. A dispensing device for abag-in-box container, comprising:a housing; first securing means forattaching said housing to said box; second securing means separate fromsaid first securing means for releasably holding at two spaced locationsa portion of said bag to be opened, said second securing means beingoperable to secure said portion of said bag whether or not said firstsecuring means has secured said housing to said box; and valve meansattached to said housing, said valve means in cooperation with saidsecond securing means being operable for selectively stretching saidportion of said bag over a course between said spaced locations to closesaid bag, or reducing said course of said bag portion to open said bagportion; said valve means comprising a resilient member and said secondsecuring means comprises a pair of spaced pins, one of said pins beingattached to said resilient member, said resilient member beingconfigured such that said spaced pins are movable towards and apart fromeach other by yieldably deforming said resilient member.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein said valve means further comprises anactuator for pressing said resilient member and deforming said resilientmember in such a manner that said pair of pins moves further apart fromeach other; said actuator comprising a first lip portion and a secondlip portion on said housing; said first and second lip portions beingswingably coupled to each other so as to squeeze said portion of saidbag between said lip portions when said pair of spaced pins are movedfurther apart from each other and to release said portion of said bagwhen said pair of spaced pins are moved towards each other.
 10. Thedevice according to claim 9, wherein said second lip portion is affixedto the housing.